Table Of Contentسۡ سۡ
يبِ بِ لرَّ ٱ بِ ـٰ مَ لرَّ ٱ بِٱ يبِ بِ
Bismi Allahi Alrrahmani Alrraheemi
In the name of Allah, the most
Beneficent, the most Merciful
Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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Knowledge – A
Definition, its Virtue
and the Ruling
Concerning its
Acquisition
By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen
(raheemahullaah)
Translated into English by ‘Abdul-Haq ibn Kofi ibn Kwesi
Addae ibn ul-Ashanti
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Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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Contents
3 Preface
6 Chapter 1 – Defining Knowledge
10 Chapter 2 – The Virtues of Knowledge
17 The Most Important Virtues of Knowledge
25 Chapter 3 - The Ruling on Seeking Knowledge
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Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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Preface
This is a translation of three chapters from the book ‘Knowledge – A
Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition’ by one of
the esteemed scholars of the Sunnah in the contemporary era,
namely Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may the
mercy of Allaah be upon him.
The book contains much in the way of advice to the seekers of
knowledge and serves as an admonishment to the sincere seeker,
causing one to reflect about their search for the divinely revealed
knowledge.
Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen was born in the town of ‘Unayzah in Arabia
on the 27th of Ramadaan 1347 AH. The Shaykh memorised the
whole Qur’aan as a young boy with his maternal grandfather
‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Sulaymaan Aali Daamigh (raheemahullaah) and
then furthered his search for knowledge by studying writing,
arithmetic and some other subjects.
The scholar ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’adee used to get two of his
senior students, Ali as-Saalihee and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez
al-Mutawwa’ (may the mercy of Allaah be upon them all) to teach
the younger students. Under whom, Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen studied
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Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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an abridgement to Aqeedat ul-Wasitiyyah and Minhaj us-Saalikeen fee’l-
Fiqh,1 as well as studying al-‘Ajroomiyyah and al-Alfiyyah in Arabic
grammar and morphology. He also studied the laws of inheritance
and fiqh under Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Awdaan.
Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen also studied under the noble Shaykh, ‘Abdul-
‘Azeez bin Baaz, to the extent that he was regarded as his second
teacher.
In 1371 AH, the Shaykh began to teach in the congregational
mosque and when the educational institutes opened in Riyadh he
signed up with them in 1372 AH and then graduated after two
years and became a teacher in educational institute (Ma’ahad ‘Ilmee)
in ‘Unayzah. In the meantime, he continued his studies under as-
Sa’adee (raheemahullaah) and with the College of Sharee’ah.
When Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’adee passed away
(raheemahullaah), Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen was appointed Imaam of the
congregational mosque in ‘Unayzah and a teacher within the
central library of ‘Unayzah in addition to Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen’s
other teaching responsibilities. He would later move on to
teaching in the faculties of Sharee’ah and Usool ud-Deen in the
Qaseem branch of Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. Moreover,
he became a member of the Council of Senior Scholars in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1 These works were compiled by as-Sa’adee (raheemahullaah).
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Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen played a large and active role in the field of
Da’wah (calling) to Allaah and teaching the Muslims from all levels
of the society. For this reason, Shaykh ‘Uthaymeen is renowned
for his beneficial lessons and sermons given in ‘Unayzah, Qaseem.
He was thus known for his classes during the nights of ‘Itikaaf
during Ramadaan every year. He was also known for his
compendium of religious rulings (fatawaa) issued to the masses of
Muslims from the east and west during Hajj or published within
journals, magazines, on the radio programme ‘Light Upon the Path’
(‘Noor ‘alaa ad-Darb’). The Shaykh was particularly known for this
and his wholesome responses to the various questions that were
posed to him day in day out.2
2 See the biography section of al-Manhaj.com
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Knowledge – A Definition, its Virtue and the Ruling Concerning its Acquisition
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Chapter One
Defining Knowledge
Linguistically: Knowledge eliminates ignorance, being a sure and
firm comprehension of something.
Technically: Some of the people of knowledge have said that
knowledge is awareness, contrary to ignorance. Whilst others have
stated that knowledge in and of itself is clear, (not needing a
definition).
That which concerns us here is Sharee’ah knowledge. Meaning by
that, clear knowledge and guidance that has been sent down by
Allaah upon his Prophet. The praiseworthy and admirable
knowledge that facilitates knowledge of the religion, and the
Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said that “the Prophets do not leave behind Deenaars or Dirhams, rather
they bequeath knowledge.”3
3 Abu Daawood and Tirmidhi
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It’s known that the Prophets don’t leave behind anything except
knowledge of Allaah’s Sharee’ah. The Prophets (may Allaah’s peace be
upon them all) did not leave behind knowledge of mundane human
endeavour or anything in connection to this. Rather, what we find
the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) doing
during his life when he came to Madeenah and found the people
artificially inseminating the palm trees saying to them, words to the
effect of, “there is no need for you to do this,” and lo, the crop failed.
Then the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
commented on this saying “You know more about your own worldly
affairs.”4 So if this was the knowledge that is praiseworthy then the
Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would
have been the most knowledgeable person about it, because the
most exemplary person due to his knowledge and acting by it is the
Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
4 Saheeh Bukhaaree, ‘The Book of Knowledge.’
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